Fucking Lino!

Well it's been some fortnight!

It started last Friday week at home to Longford Town, where we faced a Town outfit that were third in the table, and featured Keith Gillespie among their ranks!

City got off to the worst possible start in the 6th minute, Austin Skelly silencing the relatively small home support early on. James McCarthy helpless underneath the looping shot in his first competitve start for the club.

Longford seemed happy to rely on the long ball, and relied on Keith Gillespie's set pieces as their attacking threat, while City grew from their slow start, and Graham Cummins headed over about a quarter of an hour in. But still Longford stayed tight at the back, and frustrated both the home players, and home support, who were expecting a lot better before the game. It seemed that a lot of the City players were in awe of the ex-Manchester United midfielder Gillespie, standing off a man who last played his club football with Glentoran.

The Leesiders finished the half strongly though, with Town 'keeper Paul Hunt at his absolute best to deny City their equalizer. First, Shane Duggan's vicious shot was excellently tipped around the post, before Davin O'Neill was denied twice in the space of the netminders heroics before the half.

The resumption of the second brought much of the same, with City on top of a Longford side clearly playing for a draw. Paul Hunt was amongst a number of players employing time wasting antics to try and kill any momentum the Rebel Army had. With around 20 minutes left, City worked a nice move down the right hand side, the ball ended up at the feet of Gearóid Morrissey. Jaque Morely had other ideas, he hacked down the Mahon native from behind, taking absolutely none of the ball right in front of the linesman's nose. But nothing giving from the referee's 'assistant', which was a regular theme in the last fortnight (But more of that later).

Morrissey was very lively, and had a shot saved five minutes from time. But evetually City got the equaliser they wholeheartedly deserved, and it came from an unlikely source! A fantastic out-swinging cross to the back post by Gavin Kavanagh, and it was 20 year-old Jamie Murphy who eventually stuck the ball away from close range. Cue mad celebrations from the City faithful, and the relief palpable in keeping our unbeaten record, as well as not losing ground on a current title rival.

That Sunday, we secured our promotion with a 7-2 win in Cobh, and will be playing our football in the Premier division next season!

Anywho, back to Cork City matters and the following Friday we headed off to Dublin for another top-of-the-table clash, this time against the old enemy, Shelbourne! For the first time this season, it was the FORAS Chariot (A 30 seater in this case) to see me up and back safely. Chariot isn't a very apt name though, a cramped and swealtering bus wasn't the nicest way to travel to a game, though a City quiz racked our brains and provided entertainment for a few hours. The pre-match pint couldn't have come quick enough, and after watching a bit of egg-chasing and generally chewing fat before we made for Tolka.

A big crowd ammassed in the City end, and a fantastic atmosphere greeted the lads as they took to the pitch. They started very strongly, and Cummins flashed a volley wide early on. Lorcan Fitzgerald had a great chance to opening the scoring against the run of play though, but couldn't connect 6 yards out from an open goal. The Rebel Army took the lead just beyond the half hour mark, a cross to the back post was headed back into the path of Graham Cummins, who applied the simplest of finishes, sparking an explosion of noise from the away end, first blood City.

Shels could've easily hit back straight after though, a through ball over the top was taken town by Philly Hughes, clearly with his arm, though the linesman on the near side refused to flag, and only an excellent stop from McNulty remained parity, before the half-time whistle rang.

Obviously what Tommy Dunne said at half-time did not have the desired effect, as City went from having an intent to win, to being petrified of losing their lead. And invarably, they did. After prolonged Shels pressure they got the equalizer they deserved. Karl Bermingham's shot was saved but not held by Nults, and the former Waterford striker was on hand to convert at the second attempt. That didn't silence the away crowd, though neither did it snap the away side out of their daze. Barry Clancy inches away from applying a finish to Hughes' cross. Meanwhile the lino on the near side was continuing his good start, his arm up and down like a German porn star, virtually foaming at the mouth everytime he had the chance to give an offside against the Corkies.

The Rebel Army clawed their way back into the game though, and Kalen Spillane headed just over, before Vincent Escudé-Candadu came on for Vinny Sullivan and had a long range effort well tipped over by Dean Delany in the Shels net. Then the Frenchman was set off by Greg O'Halloran after winning the ball in the centre of the park, but under pressure he couldn't apply the finishing touch, rolling the ball wide of the post. Then it was the linesmans turn to steal the show again, Shane Duggan chopped down from behind, again, right under the lino's nose, but nothing giving. Four points in two games stolen from us, I sure hope Karma repays us come the end of the season!

As regards the incident outside the ground, I won't comment until the Garda investigation has been completed, but needless to say the lack of Garda presence following the game as we walked over the broken glass under darkness was a little un-nerving on the way back to the bus. The bus trip was a sombre one, with all thoughts with the young lad, and the bus driver playing the radio at full blast and going bi-polar on the lights. A long and difficult day was completed in the knowledge that a decent point was picked up, and the hope that one of our own's injuries aren't too serious.

On a sidenote, congratulations to the Youths who won the FAI Youth Cup Final 4-1 against Killarney Celtic, and the home fans who gave the lads the support they deserved. An excellent game (Danny Morrissey's goal in particular a highlight) and a bright future ahead of these lads!

Next week it's off to Wexford, and congratulations for reading this!

Until next week,
Kev